Decision details

Time Square Creating a new Collaboration/Community Hub

Decision Maker: Executive, Executive Member for Transformation & Finance

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To agree the capital budget and spend

Decision:

That Council agrees a supplementary capital approval of £604k to fund the costs for Option 1 (Phase 1) of the Time Square project in the 2021/2022 capital programme.

Reasons for the decision:

The way in which the Council has operated during the pandemic has provided the opportunity for staff to carry out many of their duties remotely and work more closely with partners, enabling flexible and collaborative working.  Many staff will continue working remotely for a larger proportion of time.  Accepting that when staff use Time Square this does not have to be in a traditional desk-based way.  This has provided the opportunity to re-purpose the building, providing more collaborative space for Council staff and partners, whilst also making parts of the building available for community use.

 

In order to establish the Collaboration and Community space a capital allocation is sought to undertake works to the building to create;

 

·            a new collaboration space on the Ground floor with a Café space;

·            a new Ceremony Room (for weddings, citizenship ceremony’s etc)

·            a re-imagined reception and customer meeting area;

·            a new child conferencing room on the ground floor;

·            the First floor available for partners and future rental space; and

·            a new Board Room on the Fourth floor, enabling the use of the existing board room on the ground floor for community bookings.

 

All spaces furnished with new furniture suitable for collaborative working and informal meeting areas and spaces.

Alternative options considered:

The Council could do nothing with staff and councillors returning to a pre-pandemic working pattern and decide not to create a Community Hub at Time Square and not to invite partners into the building. 

Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:

None.

Reason Key: Expenditure > £400,000;

Wards Affected: Wildridings & Central;

Financial Impact: Approval to seek funding for creating a new Collaboration/Community Hub

Declarations: None.

Subject to Urgent Proceedings: No.

Making Representations: In writing to the Director:Place, Planning and Regeneration

Other reasons / organisations consulted

Report

Consultees

Borough Solicitor
Director of Resources

Contact: Kamay Toor, Assistant Director: Property Services Email: kamay.toor@bracknell-forest.gov.uk Tel: 01344 355183.

Report author: Kamay Toor

Publication date: 01/06/2021

Date of decision: 01/06/2021

Decided at meeting: 01/06/2021 - Executive

Effective from: 09/06/2021

Accompanying Documents:

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk